{"id":3094,"date":"2014-08-01T05:26:37","date_gmt":"2014-08-01T05:26:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=3094"},"modified":"2014-08-01T05:37:26","modified_gmt":"2014-08-01T05:37:26","slug":"2014-alaska-vacation-days-10-and-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=3094","title":{"rendered":"2014 Alaska Vacation: Days 10 and 11"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A<\/a>
A view of Seward harbor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We had a third beautiful weather day. \u00a0We drove to Seward and couldn’t believe our weather luck! \u00a0The sky was mostly clear, the weather was warm, and there was a nice breeze. \u00a0We began by walking around some of the souvenir shops in “downtown” Seward.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking up over some of the buildings on "main street" Seward<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seward is the southern terminus of the Alaska railroad and a port of debarkation for coal from the interior of Alaska heading to Asia. \u00a0It is also a port for cruise ships. \u00a0The winter population is about 5000 people. \u00a0There were a number nice little stores and cafes in town.<\/p>\n

\"Another<\/a>
Another view of "main street" Seward<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After walking around the town, we made sandwiches in the RV and drove to Exit Glacier. \u00a0The Harding Ice Field is a huge glacier (sort of a lake of ice in the middle of the Chugach mountains) that feeds several glaciers. \u00a0One of the first expeditions to try cross the ice field exited at this glacier, hence the name.<\/p>\n

\"Our<\/a>
Our first glimpse Exit Glacier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We had a chance to take a hike up alongside the glacier for a couple of miles.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A look at Exit Glacier from just a few yards away<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As we got closer to the ice, we found that the glacier was creating its own cold breeze. \u00a0The lower area near the visitor’s center was actually hot, and we were attacked by flies. \u00a0Once we got up a few feet, it was quite pleasant, perhaps chilly. \u00a0There is a longer hike (approximately 8 hours) that takes you up to the edge of the ice field, but we didn’t have time for that. \u00a0We needed to get back for our second cruise.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A block of ice that has fallen off Exit Glacier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Getting<\/a>
Getting ready for our cruise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before heading out to Exit Glacier, we had signed up for a four-hour cruise out Resurrection Bay into the Gulf of Alaska to look at wildlife. \u00a0Our hope was to see porpoises, whales, and puffins.<\/p>\n

\"Tommy<\/a>
Tommy looking "nautical" on our way out of the harbor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The cruise included an all-you-can eat prime rib and salmon buffet. \u00a0The food was terrific. \u00a0On the way back to port, there was an all-you-can eat dessert buffet. \u00a0Based on prices for food in Alaska, one serving of each would have cost more in most restaurants than we paid for the buffet.<\/p>\n

\"Sammy,<\/a>
Sammy, Tommy, and Candy looking at jellyfish<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The boat holds up to 200 people, but for whatever reason only 19 were signed up for this cruise. \u00a0The limited number of passengers enabled the crew to provide more personalized attention and reduced the jockeying for position on the rail to see wildlife.<\/p>\n

Again the cruise included a National Park Service Ranger who provided narration throughout the four-hour ride. \u00a0The ranger told us that these charter cruise companies pay the Park Service to provide these rangers, which in turn allows them to hire more part-time rangers to assist with managing the vast lands controlled by the Department of the Interior.<\/p>\n

\"Several<\/a>
Several glacier-created islands on our way out of Resurrection Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Porpoises<\/a>
Porpoises following our boat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The porpoises were designated “awesome” by Sammy.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A distant view of a Humpback Whale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We never got too close to this whale, but he was clearly visible several times. \u00a0The ranger explained that when whales are sleeping they bob near the surface, coming up from time to time to breathe.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Candy<\/a>
Candy enjoying her fourth Harvey Wallbanger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just kidding… but we did enjoy soft drinks and later some hot chocolate.<\/p>\n

We met our objectives of spotting porpoises, whales, and puffins! \u00a0Tommy was hoping to see a Beluga whale, but we didn’t.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The view above our campsite in Seward<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We slept that night in a campground right along the water. \u00a0When we woke up we were greeted by yet another perfect weather day!<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Alaska Sealife Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The agenda called for us to visit the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward. \u00a0Partially funded by Federal money and partially funded by an Exxon Valdez trust fund, this center is involved in aquatic research and the rehabilitation of wounded animals. \u00a0When the weather was so nice the previous day, we pushed this off a day, fully expecting that the weather would turn bad and it would be good to enjoy an indoor activity.<\/p>\n

\"Commodore<\/a>
Commodore Sammy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some kind of crab<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sammy<\/a>
Sammy and Tommy touching stuff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Sealife Center was nicely laid out with some innovative exhibits. \u00a0I thought it was worth the time we spent there. \u00a0They also had once of the nicest gift shops we’d seen throughout our visit to Alaska.<\/p>\n

\"They<\/a>
They continue to touch stuff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A puffin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A strange sort of starfish, called a Basket Starfish<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Seals\"<\/a>
Seals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A sea lion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sadly our trip is beginning to come to an end. \u00a0After lunch in Seward, we headed back toward Anchorage for our last night in Alaska. \u00a0Along the way we pulled off at some scenic overlooks to see some of the sites that were difficult to see because of the rain on our way southward.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The view along the road back to Anchorage from Seward<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Somewhere during our drive, I got an Email from my buddy Sam Fuson who was once stationed at Ft. Richardson. \u00a0He recommended that we have halibut at the Sourdough Mining Company. \u00a0The food was terrific and so plentiful that even Tom had trouble finishing his dinner. \u00a0Most nights there is a singer and storyteller in the evenings, but we happened to get there the one night in 10 years that he was ill.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The view from Bird Point in the Turnagain Arm area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well… \u00a0we get on the plane tomorrow for another 12 hours in the air back to Baltimore with stops in Seattle and Detroit. \u00a0Ca ca. \u00a0Another vacation has come to a close.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n